hey ash, don't your sempai also have hakama? where did they order from ? ask them their advice.

anyways, i haven't taken my all all cotton hakama (iwata) to a cleaner. there's a thread here on how to wash/soak the hakama to get rid of excess dye. i'll try to find it.

but i've always, just kept the hakama folded, filled a large basin w/lukewarm water and just hand pressed the the hakama in the water. empty and fill the basin until the water is pretty clear. i use a little ivory detergent and it seems to work well. pleats stay, then hang it to dry.